No. 605] 



ANIMAL COLORATION 



285 



ishes. No matter how wide the original gap between 

 mimic and model, it may be bridged ; no matter what de- 

 gree of similarity between two forms may be necessary 

 before natural selection may become effective in heighten- 

 ing their resemblance, it may be attained without appeal 

 to chance that is wholly blind, for there appears to be an 

 automatic feature in the mechanism which has hitherto 

 escaped observation. 



The ideas outlined in the preceding pages are neither a 

 pure product of reflection nor a compromise suggested by 

 an examination of the literature upon mimicry. They are 

 a normal outgrowth of studies which had no preconceived 

 relation to the problem of mimetic resemblance. They 

 constitute a working hypothesis, and as such are sub- 

 mitted to those biologists, particularly entomologists, who 

 may have opportunity to test therh rigorously. 



